Municipal government agencies should pay more attention to the development of business in the regions, BelTA learned from Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov on 16 March. Andrei Kobyakov went to Gantsevichi District, Brest Oblast on a working trip on that day.

The head of government was informed about the social and economic development of Gantsevichi District, prospects of small and medium business, and the creation of new jobs.

There is no critical situation with external funding in Belarus, BelTA learned from Belarusian Economy Minister Vladimir Zinovsky on 14 March.

According to the source, as far as external funding is concerned, Belarus works tightly with the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Chinese financial institutions, and so on. “The only drawback we would like to address faster is the lack of projects we can lend money to,” pointed out the economy minister.

Belarus is eager to implement all agreements with India at the highest level, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Pankaj Saxena on 13 March, BelTA informs.

The president remarked that the Indian diplomat is one of the ambassadors who have made a big contribution to the enhancement of bilateral relations.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met with State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota on 12 March to discuss the preparations for the Supreme State Council session, BelTA informs.

“We need to discuss a number of issues in detail after the presidential elections and to analyze the situation. These are issues in the military and political cooperation, economic cooperation between the two states.

Belarus and Russia are continuing negotiations on deliveries of Belarusian dairy products in Moscow, representatives of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry told BelTA.

The source explained that a Belarusian delegation resumed negotiations with Russian colleagues in Moscow on 5 March in order to find a solution to the problem of Russia's ban on Belarusian dairy imports.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko urged law enforcement bodies not to focus on departmental statistics too much. He made the statement at the session of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus on 27 February, BelTA informs.

The head of state is convinced that departmental statistics should be used for analysis rather than for self-complacency. “You should focus on real problems rather than numbers,” the president said.

The main provisions of the entrepreneurship development ordinance came into force in Belarus as of 26 February, BelTA has learned.

The ordinance is the key one in the package of regulations designed to liberalize business operation terms in Belarus. Piotr Arushanyants, Director of the Entrepreneurship Department of the Belarusian Economy Ministry, explained during a roundtable session in BelTA that the ordinance is designed to simplify the terms for starting up a business and running a business.

Belarus will always support the United Nations Organization, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed on 21 February, BelTA has learned.

“We will be a pillar of strength for you, for all of us - the United Nations. You can rest assured of this. Not only because I really respect the current Secretary General or because the United Nations is the platform where we can talk openly about our problems.

MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to work in the agricultural and industrial sectors of Algeria using its own technologies, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelkader Messahel on 20 February, BelTA has learned.

“With your will and assistance, we are ready to work in the industry and agriculture using our technologies.

The Belarusian industrial group Belorusneft intends to increase oil production in Russia in 2018 by 20% to as much as 180,000 tonnes, BelTA learned from Belorusneft Deputy Director General, Chief Engineer Vladimir Goshkis.

Since the acquisition of Yangpur Oil Company, Belorusneft has extracted over 570,000 tonnes of oil and more than 590 million cubic meters of associated and natural gas in Russia.